CHRISTCHURCH PUBLIC HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21990, 14 January 1937, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH PUBLIC HOSPITAL

IQ ran BDIT.OB o» th« pusi Sir, —With another visitor I had occasion to visit a patient in one of the men’s wards of the Christchurch Public Hospital a few nights ago. To our horror we discovered every bedridden man in the ward with . heaps of green peas, and a pot each on every bed. The patients were actually shelling the peas. This was apparently quite irrespective of their diseases. The proceeding filled one with horror to even think that any food for consumption other than the patients’ meals was taken among sick people. The hospital, so I am given to understand, charges £4 4s a week, so why, even for amusement, give men or women patients’ food to prepare? The answer may be given: “Boiling the peas would kill the germs.” Not so, for it is on medical record that no germs can be said to be killed unless boiled at greatest heat for 30 minutes. I heard several medical lectures confirming this, and from Harley street, London, specialists. Were the peas boiled steadily for 30 minutes then no peas except mash would be left. Is there no medical officer on duty at the Christchurch Hospital that such a horror is enacted?— Yours, etc., HOSPITAL VISITOR. January 12, 1937. , FWhen this letter was referred to Dr. A. D. Nfelson, medical superintendent of the Christchurch Public Hospital, he said that he declined to enter into any controversy, on the subject.]